planting a climbing rose, what's the smallest space I can get away with?

[traviata]

I'm going to train a climbing rose up a pergola (Zephirine Drouhin). It's all lawn up to the pergola. There is a smallish hole holding some inadequately performing clematis, which are going. I think I should make the hole bigger, and dig in some organic matter.

how big an open space can I get away with? how much turf must I remove?

I will leave it open for a few days so the blackbirds can peck away at any leatherjackets. Any other tips for planting a climber amongst lawn?

[traviata]

btw can you imagine being named Zephirine? presumably it is like 'zephyrs the breezes or winds.

[Ferguson]

Maybe the clematis didn't have good enough soil, and they need a thick mulch of something to keep their roots cool.

How big a space depends on size of root ball I should think, but better to err on the generous side rather than constrict it.

This might help:

www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=619

[traviata]

Thanks Ferguson, I think you are right about the clematis.

I fancy a rose there instead anyway. It's a bare root rose (I didn't realise David Austin would still send out bare root plants in May). I have dug in some garden compost but now need to order some manure and mulch, which I need generally.